Is there a Simple Preventative? What is SARS? SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is a highly contagious, pneumonia-like respiratory virus which is now known to be caused by a new variant of the coronavirus. Named for their distinctive crown-like appearance, coronaviruses have been known for some time to be a cause of upper-respiratory illnesses, including […]

Psychoneuroimmunology is the branch of biomedical science that explores the relationships between the nervous system, emotions, and the endocrine and immune systems; it is concerned with the links between our states of mind and our states of health. It is one piece of a very complex puzzle – the puzzle of what creates and maintains […]

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri, B. sacra, B. papyri et al) in use for over 5,000 years and now threatened? It may seem counterintuitive that some Frankincense species are on the threatened species list of Cropwatch (www.cropwatch.org) since no trees are destroyed in harvesting the resin (which is then steam distilled to make Frankincense essential oil) but […]

Recently I have been corresponding with a member of Cropwatch, an organization that monitors the status of plant species that are put at risk by agricultural and commercial practices around the globe. Many of us in the field of Aromatherapy have been aware for years that we are faced with increasing challenges as we try […]

Aromas Impact Mood: Aromas effect mood and evoke memories. For example, Frankincense and Cypress have been said to aid in dispelling grief, while Ylang Ylang and Juniper are claimed to aid in coping with guilt…. Aromas can effect mood and evoke memories. If the smell of baking cookies, a smoky campfire, or a lover’s favorite […]

Highlights of this article: What is Aromatherapy? What are essential oils? What are fragrance oils? How do I know what I’m purchasing? How do I use essential oils? How are essential oils stored? What is Aromatherapy? Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils in order to take advantage of their benefits for the body, […]

It’s a shame that most aromatherapists never study the broader field of herbal medicine because one of the things they miss by not doing so is immersion in the world of plants. When you study herbal medicine you learn where the medicinal plants live, how to propagate them and when to harvest them in order […]

Anyone who has read a reference book on aromatherapy knows that essential oils are widely promoted for their usefulness in addressing skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections and many other types of skin disorders. This is, of course, useful information if you know something about these disorders and how to identify them but […]

THE SKIN: Essential Oils are of benefit to the skin because their solubility in lipids draws them readily into the skin and allows them to diffuse and penetrate in the skin. Their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, emollient, analgesic, and healing properties are of direct benefit, while calming, immunostimulating, detoxifying properties support the correction and healing of underlying […]

THE SKIN: Essential Oils are of benefit to the skin because their solubility in lipids draws them readily into the skin and allows them to diffuse and penetrate in the skin. Their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, emollient, analgesic, and healing properties are of direct benefit, while calming, immunostimulating, detoxifying properties support the correction and healing of underlying […]